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Fixing Classroom Observations

How Common Core Will Change the Way We Look at Teaching

November 12, 2013

If we want evaluations to deliver valuable feedback for teachers, we have to fix classroom observations.

Classroom observations are the foundation of virtually every teacher evaluation system in the country, and they aren’t working. Today’s observation rubrics give observers too much to look for in a short amount of time, creating inflated and inaccurate ratings and leaving many observers struggling to provide useful feedback to teachers.

Fixing Classroom Observations outlines a set of ideas for evolving classroom observations based on lessons learned by dozens of states and school districts that have implemented new evaluation systems over the past several years. We propose bringing the same focus and coherence to classroom observations that Common Core brings to academic standards.

The new approach to classroom observations presented in this whitepaper is built around two “must-haves”: assessing what’s being taught in addition to how it’s being taught, and putting observation rubrics on a diet. But well-designed evaluation systems alone are not enough to produce more meaningful evaluation ratings—districts have to devote time and resources to implementing them to ensure that teachers get honest and helpful feedback.

Adapt - Transform and build upon the TNTP Core Teaching Rubric to meet your local needs

Under the Following Terms:

Attribution - You must give appropriate credit to TNTP, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests that TNTP endorses you or your use.For example:"The ABC School District’s Rubric was adapted from the TNTP Core Teaching Rubric (CC BY-NC 4.0)"

NonCommercial - You may not use the TNTP Core Teaching Rubric, or any materials adapted from it, for commercial purposes.